Page 191 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303 (1)

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

Constituents
Squill contains a crystalline glycoside scillaren A and an amorphous mixture
of glycosides named scillaren B. The drug also contains 4-11 % mucilage, sinistrin
(carbohydrate soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol), xanthoscillide (lemon
yellow crystals), and calcium oxalate in bundles of long acicular crystals.

Red Squill: It is a variety of Urginea maritima (Linn.) Baker and owes its color
to the presence of a red anthocyanin dissolved in the cell sap of many of the cells
of the mesophyll of the bulb scales. It contains the glycoside scilliroside.

Uses
Squill closely resembles digitalis in increasing the vigor and diminishing the
frequency of cardiac action. It is also a powerful expectorant and is much used in
chronic bronchitis and for coughs generally. In large doses it produces emesis. The
two varieties of squill are said to be active; but the glycoside sciliroside present in
the red variety is very much more toxic to rats than scillaren A. Red squill is
therefore widely used as a rat poison.

148